The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-13
"A SICK SISTER"
How a Confederate Spy Picked UP
Information for Gen. Early.

Information for Gen. Early.
While Sheridan's forces we're lying IN
camp, just previous to Early's move
meut and temporary victory by passing
along the base of Masssnutton Noun
tain, at Strasburg, Va, was sent into
the Federal lines by General Early to
pick up such information as could be
had. Tbs armies were so close together
that there was no neutral ground be-
ween them for one to operate on, and
the task of penetrating the lines seemed
to me the most perilous one had yet
undertaken. After casting about for &
dav, and holding interviews with some
residents of the vicinity who had come
into the Confederate lines for safety, L
decided on plan.
On the pike leading out of town and
running along the right flank ana rear
of the Federal army, or at least part
OF it, was Confederate war widow VII"
could be depended on. A part OF her
mouse was then occupied by Federal OF
ficers, and il was certain TO be depot
for information. From. a woman IN
| OLIASDuIR
outfit of wearing apparel, had my long
hair trimmed as many of the southern
women wore theirs during the war, and
at dark one night [ moved along the
right flank of the Federal army until
two miles below the point l designed to
make. Then | put myself in female rig,
arranged an extra bundle, and struck
the Middletown pike in the rear of the
Sixth Corps. 1t wasn't five minutes be-
fore l was challenged and an officer
called 10 investigate, and this is the
story 1 told:
My name is Mayworth, my husband
was killed at Bull Run. live in the log
1 house on the cross road coming In about
mile from here, where you people
| burned the big red barns. My sis er
Mrs. ARROW, lives in the double log
| house just as you raise the hill a mile
and half ahead. l am sick and worn
out, and am going up to stay with her
until this is over
Scarcely question was asked me.
was challenged twice more bat got off
lust as EASY. Having come in behind a
portion of the army in blue no one could
well suspect nae, and, as a matter CT
fact, the women of that neighb0rhoCd
were shifting about a good deal, and
there was no military reason why they
should be stopped. [ reached Mrs. Ak
row s without a mistake. l knew that
the fronts of both houses were occupied
by officers and when l approached it was
By the rear | had to pass half dozen
orderlies to get into the house and
though some of them wanted to jest
with ,ue no one interfered with my
movements. l found The woman just
as she had been described, intelligent,
patrio ic and very observing. She had
been doing cooking and laundry WORK
for some of the officers, and had kept
her eyes and ears open. On two coca
sions she had been through the Sixth
Corps, and she knew the lay of the
ground clear down to the base of the
mountain and the force of cavalry
holding it.
l had passed for female very well at
night. but 1 could not run too many
chances by daylight. [ therefore went
to bed to play sick. l was entirely
beardless then, out we put pouitice on
my cheek for neuralgia, tied cloth
over the greater share of my face, and
as lay in bed with my women's night
dress on the makeup was complete. In
deed, an army surgeon came IN and
prescribed for me. and two vivandi rs
| visited me on two different occasions
without the imposition being detected.
| was in the house eight days and
nights, and between what [ heard and
what Mrs. ARROW picked up, reported
| to General Early on my return to his
headquarters the number of Federal
cavalry holding the advance position
within $50, the number of field pieces
within three. the exact number of earth
works and length of breastworks, and
the amount of artillery in the Sixth
Corp lacking three or four guns
! Detroit Free Press.